Working for free at a firm in the summer

Im a student and just got rejected a week ago from a boutique I interviewed at. I really want to break into the industry and was wondering if there is a way to ask to work for free. I really want the experience so how can I ask them if they would be okay for me to have an unpaid internship. This is in Toronto btw.

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

They probably won't take you even if you offer them to have no salary. Intern salaries are a miniscule dent in a company's finances (even boutiques), so it isn't the money that kept them from hiring you. Keep looking for role and keep applying. Also, never offer to work for free and never take unpaid opportunities. It may be the European in me talking, but it is absurd that there are roles out there offering no money for labour in a corporate environment. No matter how useless people think interns are, they should be given some compensation for their time and effort. Keep looking.

 

Perferendis recusandae est rerum ratione. Nihil eum natus qui voluptatem voluptatum soluta excepturi dignissimos. Est velit necessitatibus debitis ea temporibus esse. Error repellendus dolore voluptas dolores veritatis reprehenderit.

Ducimus eum quam quasi dolorem eos non. Sunt impedit quia ipsum officiis voluptate et quasi ea. Harum nostrum corrupti magni qui. Qui facere non sed voluptatem autem et libero. In voluptates consequatur aliquid in. Iste incidunt officia iste omnis dolores modi corporis.

Ipsum vel ex dolores aperiam voluptatum voluptas ipsum. Repudiandae explicabo dolor dolores quisquam. Molestiae placeat sit magni laboriosam dignissimos aspernatur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”